Far From the Madding Crowd/Sense and Sensibility by Jessica Swale

Jessica Swale has created a compelling version of Hardy's classic novel. The characters in the script come to life and we feel as connected to the independent and impetuous Bathsheba as we do to the thoughtful, loyal Gabriel. The text is lengthy but encompasses the real essence of the story and would make an engaging study text. For performance in schools it could be easily condensed. The adaptation of Sense and Sensibility is a lovely version of Jane Austen's iconic tale of family, love and fortune. As an audience we feel a range of emotions for the Dashwood girls and how they are treated by the various villains in their lives. Swale achieves her goal of translating Austen's huge world into something that will really work on stage. Again, we feel a real connection to the characters and the predicament that they find themselves in through no fault of their own. The characters of all three girls would make ideal characters for school performance alongside the somewhat more traditionally depicted menfolk.

As texts for study or performances there is much in both plays that would appeal to GCSE or A level students with great opportunities for sensitive and thoughtful character work and plenty of issues raised as relevant now as they were when the novels were written.